Section 3 North America

1 Overview

<The Importance of Cooperation with the North American Region, Which Shares Fundamental Values and Principles>

The security environment in the region and the international community is becoming increasingly severe at a rapid pace due to Russia's aggression against Ukraine, North Korea's repeated ballistic missile launches with an unprecedented frequency and in unprecedented manners, and the continuation and strengthening of unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force in the East China Sea and the South China Sea. 2022 was a year in which the international community reached a great historic turning point. As the international order is facing challenges and gravely shaken now, there has never been a time when it has been more necessary to have cooperation with our allies and like-minded countries.

The United States is Japan's sole ally. The strong Japan-U.S. Alliance is the linchpin of Japan's foreign and security policy, and the foundation of peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. It is also essential to have cooperation with Canada, a member of the G7 and Japan's important partner in the Indo-Pacific region that shares universal values.

<The Diplomatic Strategies of the U.S. and Canada>

In light of the increasingly severe international situation, 2022 was a year of changes in the diplomatic strategies of the U.S. and Canada. The U.S. announced its Indo-Pacific Strategy in February and its National Security Strategy in October. In the Indo-Pacific Strategy, the U.S. positions itself as an Indo-Pacific nation, states its determination to strengthen its long-term position and commitment to the Indo-Pacific, and pledged to achieve an “Indo-Pacific that is free and open, connected, prosperous, secure, and resilient.” Furthermore, in October, the first National Security Strategy under the administration of President Joseph Biden was released. The Strategy outlines how the U.S. will respond to strategic competition and other challenges facing the international community in cooperation with its allies and like-minded countries, including Japan, while taking a leadership role. Furthermore, the Strategy clearly specifies promotion of Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) and reaffirms unwavering commitment to the defense of Japan, including the Senkaku Islands.

Canada also released its first-ever Indo-Pacific Strategy in November. The Strategy is positioned as a comprehensive road map for deepening Canada's engagement in the Indo-Pacific region over the next decade, and is based on a strategy of strengthening the free, open, sustainable, and inclusive order in the region. This was a move that symbolized Canada's growing engagement in the region, in addition to the fields it has conventionally emphasized.

<Japan's Diplomatic Relations with North America>

Against the abovementioned backdrop, 2022 was a year of deepening relations between Japan and the U.S. and Canada. Amid signs of the resumption of people-to-people exchanges in various fields toward the post-COVID-19 era, there was frequent high-level policy coordination between Japan and the U.S. in 2022, such as eight summit meetings (including one video teleconference meeting and two telephone calls) and 13 foreign ministers' meetings (including six telephone calls). In particular, the Japan-U.S. Alliance has been increasingly strengthened under the deep relationships of trust between the leaders and foreign ministers, including the Japan-U.S. Summit Video Teleconference Meeting in January, the Japan-U.S. Summit Meeting during President Biden's visit to Japan in May, and the Japan-U.S. Foreign Ministers' Meeting during Foreign Minister Hayashi's visit to the U.S. in July. The two countries are closely cooperating in responding to regional situations in Ukraine, North Korea, and China, as well as global challenges such as COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, nuclear disarmament, and non-proliferation.

In particular, during President Biden's visit to Japan in May, the Japan-U.S. Joint Leaders' Statement “Strengthening the Free and Open International Order” was released as the outcome of the summit meeting. This Statement indicates the joint Japan-U.S. strategy aiming for the maintenance and development of the free and open international order based on the rule of law, taking into account the current international affairs and the strategic importance of the Indo-Pacific region. Based on the direction indicated at the summit meeting, the Japan-U.S. Alliance was strengthened in all fields, including politics, security, economic, and people-to-people exchanges, including the visit to the U.S. by Foreign Minister Hayashi in July and the visit to Japan by Vice President Kamala Harris to attend the state funeral of the late Prime Minister ABE Shinzo.

Furthermore, Japan and Canada held three summit meetings (including two telephone calls) and four foreign ministers' meetings in 2022. Amidst the severe security environment, cooperation between the two countries is essential for regional peace and prosperity. In October, Foreign Minister Hayashi and Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly, who visited Japan as a guest of honor of MOFA, announced the “Japan-Canada Action Plan for contributing to a free and open Indo-Pacific region.” The Action Plan summarizes specific initiatives in six priority areas of cooperation shared by Japan and Canada, and will serve as a compass for concrete steps forward in Japan-Canada cooperation toward realizing FOIP.